Jim Harbaugh wasn't at last year's Indianapolis 500, but his words were with Panther Racing CEO John Barnes, whose team endured one of the most devastating near-misses in motor-sports history.

Entering the final turn, Panther's driver, Sausalito's J.R. Hildebrand, had a commanding four-second lead and was moments away from handing Barnes, 60, the first Indianapolis 500 title of his 43-year career in racing.

Instead, Hildebrand, in an attempt to avoid a driver he'd lapped, swerved outside, crashed into the retaining wall and slid across the finish line in second place.

This week, in advance of Sunday's Indy 500, Barnes has constantly been asked how long it took him to recover from last year's finish.

Not long at all, Barnes has explained. He credits Harbaugh, the 49ers head coach whose 15-year involvement with open-wheel racing isn't widely known around football circles. Harbaugh is one of Panther's founding partners and remains one of the five co-owners of the team that began in 1997 when Harbaugh was in his final season with the Indianapolis Colts.

His influence, Barnes said, came in handy last year.

"We have a thing here called the Harbaugh Rule," Barnes said. "Forty-eight hours after something good or bad happens, we're on to the next thing. Jim taught me to get over it and get on down the road. Just move on and figure out how you're going to handle the next situation. So, yeah, I followed the Harbaugh Rule last year."

Involvement more limited

His rule aside, Harbaugh is quick to note whatever influence he has on Panther Racing these days is limited given the demands of his 9-to-5 job.

A regular at the Indy 500 since 1994 - Barnes recalls him "jumping, gyrating and carrying on" in the pits when the late Dan Wheldon, then with Panther, challenged for the win en route to a second-place finish in 2010 - Harbaugh will miss the race for the second straight year Sunday.

He remains in regular contact with Barnes, a friend who values his insights on leadership and coaching, and he visited Panther's headquarters during the NFL combine in Indianapolis in February.

At 13, Harbaugh made the trek from Ann Arbor, Mich., to Indianapolis with his family and saw Tom Sneva break the 200-mph barrier at the 1977 Indianapolis 500 time trials. In 1994, after he was traded from the Bears to the Colts, he attended his first 500 as a fan and was hooked.

Known for bleeding pigskin, Harbaugh, a member of one of football's most famous families, has called the Indianapolis 500 "better than Christmas."

"The start of the race, since the first race I saw until now, I still think it's the most exciting moment in sports," Harbaugh said.

Hildebrand, 24, visited the 49ers' training camp last summer before an IRL race in Sonoma and was struck by Harbaugh's knowledge and love of racing.

"There's still a piece of his heart that's in Indianapolis with the race team," Hildebrand said.

Through his relationship with business owner Gary Pedigo - Harbaugh did commercials for his Chevrolet dealership in Indianapolis - Harbaugh joined Pedigo as one of Panther's six founding partners in 1997.

As an immensely popular local figure, Harbaugh brought Panther - then a humble operation of about 15 employees - credibility and was instrumental in landing sponsorship deals.

His role wasn't limited to glad-handing, however.

Worked with pit crew

Co-owner Mike Griffin said Harbaugh worked with the pit crew, giving training tips that would target specific muscle groups for those who lug fuel hoses and pump jacks for a living. As a coach of the 49ers, Harbaugh is fond of saying he wants his team to get "a mile per hour" faster each day. Griffin, laughing, said the expression might be traced to Harbaugh's obsession with helping Panther win, in whatever small way he could.

"I think Jimmy is a big fan of anything that involves competition," Griffin said. "So he was drawn to it in that regard. He was really instrumental in getting those guys in the pits into the spirit of the warrior, but also showing them how to do it physically - how to get in shape for it and what edge can you pick up by being in shape."

Until the end of his playing career in 2001, Harbaugh was a regular in Panther's pits during NFL offseasons. He held the sign board and his job was to ensure the car pitted in the correct spot, an assignment he once gave to his then-Chargers teammate, the late Junior Seau, during a race in Phoenix.

Since beginning his coaching career, he's become less visible. He is, however, in regular contact with Barnes.

"I had no idea what impact he would make on me personally and on the team competitively that he did," Barnes said. "Even though he doesn't spend a lot of time with us, I call him all the time and ask him for advice. I think he's one of the greatest coaches in sports."

Barnes says he watches Harbaugh's postgame press conferences on the Internet, picking up on how he supports his players and deflects credit.

Last year, Hildebrand expected an angry lecture from Barnes following his crash on the final turn of his first Indianapolis 500. Instead, Barnes offered a touching lesson in leadership, hugging Hildebrand and telling him he loved him.

Harbaugh may not be around much these days, but Barnes says he's constantly bringing things to the table.

"Jim is all about the team," Barnes said. "Never ever once does he take credit for anything. It's always about the coaches around him and the players around him. And I'm using that throughout my life, whether it's in my business or my personal life."